Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Simply Sega

Some people have kids, I have Sega. She's now 23, older than many of my friends' children but I feel like she's been with me for a lifetime and I can't imagine life without her but am beginning to try to visualize the emptiness that will be left once she is gone. She's starting to fade a bit now, her eyesight is not great and her hearing is getting a bit tired too. But every now and then, she comes out in the morning and romps and bucks around for a few minutes, acting like she's two. She's telling me, in her own way, that yes, a part of me still has it.

You sometimes don't know what you've got until it's gone, but I realize what I have and now relish the moments with Sega, ones that I'll never forget, well into my old age. She gave me many memories, ones that I am more than lucky to have - like the weekend we beat the top three foot horse in the country, at a show, in that horse's back yard, in Ohio. It was a prestigious show, a huge win for us and I have a photo of us both with that tricolor proudly displayed in my bathroom where I see it at least three times a day. But it's not like I'll ever forget that weekend in July.

I wonder how many miles we drove together, all of those years, traveling to Florida, Vermont, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania for shows. Oddly, we never showed in my home state, not even once. My two regrets are not taking her to New York, to the National Horse Show (we were "invited" the last year it was ever held in New York) and no horse would have been easier to take there than Sega. And we never made it to Blowing Rock. Oh well. There are only a few regrets.

And then there was the time my brake line broke on my truck en route to Culpepper, VA. How lucky we were that the line broke immediately after we came down through the mountains. We spent the entire day at the truck dealership, while they repaired the line. Sega and I hung out, walking, standing, waiting for five or six hours. What horse would do that? Only Sega.

She is such a special animal and everyone who worked with her, rode her, spent time with her in her prime knew how lucky we all were to have her in our lives. She was a gift to me, and still is and I wonder what I ever did to deserve her. I hope she feels the same way. Love the people and animals in your life. Never ever take them for granted. Cherish the memories and make new ones.

Enjoyed reading your thoughts about Sega. I lost my 28 yo retired show hunter in November. Savoring every moment and expressing gratitude as it should be. Such a privilege to love and care for them after what they have done for us.

My first horse passed quite suddenly and unexpectedly -- and I was a bit younger -- and was in the camp of 'didn't know what I had until it was gone.' Now, I'm much more grateful for the small moments, although I will admit to being a touch sad I didn't get to enjoy retirement with him.

Sega sounds like an amazing horse -- thank you for sharing some of her story with us!

I run a horse sanctuary for old horses, Borderlands Horse Sanctuary. We don't typically meet our horses in their prime but we are honored to care for them in their golden years. The wisdom they have and the experiences they've gone through show in all that they do. These older horses are amazing. Wish more people would hang on to their beloved horses even when they no longer are in their prime.

I still have my 24yo QH who I went to the top with in reining events, then in his middle and senior years he was my trusty foxhunting mount. My parents bred and raised him so I've literally had him since he was an embryo! The last time I saw my dad alive was when he brought Jaguar to live with me in Texas. He is such a treasure to have around and he reminds me what I have to look forward to with my younger horses.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. We lucky ones get a horse like Sega, maybe once. She is still a treasure, even at 23. But she was like this at 3 too! Every horse I have ever worked with had a "hole" except Sega. I will take care of her until the bitter end. Hoping for a few more good retirement years. She has earned it.